Flying H Genetics 17 Quality Standards for Cattle

Quality Standards

Flying H Genetics initiated their 15 QUALITY STANDARDS almost 20 years ago to guarantee the genetic quality of every animal we market. In 1998 minimum carcass standards for Rib Eye Area and Marbling were added making it 16 QUALITY STANDARDS. Now in 2005, we have added Standard #17–Disease Prevention– making one of the industry’s strongest guarantees even stronger!

The Following Standards Must Be Met By All Bulls

1. Calving Ease: must be primary, nothing else matters if the calf is DOA We use a 1-5 calving ease score: 1 = no assistance, 2 = hand pull and the heifer could have had it alive if given more time 3 = hard pull, at FHG these calves and their mother are both culled; 4 = Caesarean, we have never had a Caesarean at FHG due to large birth weights; 5 = abnormal presentation like head back, etc. We also watch the genetics, body conformation and bone structure to help eliminate difficult births. We feel so strongly about the importance of calving ease that we guarantee every bull we sell for calving ease.

2. Birth Weight: is relative to calving ease and performance There are 20 different factors that affect birth weight. So, a bull's own birth weight is not an accurate indicator of his calves' birth weights. However, birth weight is the second most important trait associated with calving ease and thus has to be known and selected for. Acceptable birth weights will vary depending on what the rancher is asking the bull to do. Higher growth or performance will increase birth weights because the same genetics that help the calf grow after birth are also at work in the womb. FHG weighs EVERY calf-no guessing-and we'll tell you exactly what it is. When you're trying to select the right bull for your program, there is no substitute for honest records.

3. Weaning Weight: without the aid of creep feed. Our minimum standard is 550 pounds adjusted 205 day weight. This is adequate performance for most herds especially when selecting calving ease bulls for heifers etc. And many bulls exceed 700 pounds at 205 days with our average around 650 pounds. This is done on grass with less than 20 inches of rain and with an average cow weight of only 1250 lbs.

4. Weaning/Yearling Hip Height: is used as a tool to help quantify growth and mature size. Experience shows that frame four (4) and below cattle don't have adequate frame for acceptable growth and that cattle above frame seven (7) may have more frame and growth than needed when retaining replacement heifers. Each rancher must determine the level of growth and frame that fits his needs-at FHG you'll find them between frame 5 and 7.5.

5. Yearling Weight: is a good indicator of genetic growth. At FHG our minimum for yearling bulls is 1000 pounds. And that is not a fat 1000 pounds. After weaning, the bulls are fed a roughage based ration balanced for 3 pounds per day gain. For some bulls this is less than they gained while nursing the cow, but we are growing bulls not fattening steers. And, such growth demonstrates the genetic potential for 3.5-4.5 pounds gain when the steer calves are fed out. The bulls, grown in large pens on our roughage based feeding program, develop sound feet and legs and are ready to work.

6. Weight Per Day of Age: We get paid by the pound so growth is very important. With our minimum weaning and yearling weights we eliminate the poor-doing cattle. And this is not at the expense of calving ease or moderate mature size. By adding length, depth of rib and thickness rather than height we can have weight without sacrificing calving ease, fleshing ability or getting the cows -too big.

7. Yearling Scrotal: FHG's minimum is 32 cm. This is higher than the industry standard of 30 cm. for good reason. Researchers have shown a direct correlation between a sire's scrotal circumference and age of puberty of his daughters. And since over 90% of our customers retain heifers, it becomes very important to assure adequate size. We also adjust the scrotal measurement to 365 days. This allows for better comparison between bulls of different age.

8. Yearling Pelvic: -on bulls? Yes, because they pass it along to their daughters and pelvic size influences calving ease. Our minimum is 150 cm2 on bulls and 160 cm2 on heifers adjusted 365 days of age (bulls tend to be smaller than their heifers mates). Again, because calving ease is so important to us and our customers, we've culled for pelvic size enough years that small pelvis is not a problem. Generations of selection for this and other traits assures our customers of a more predictable genetic package-we've worked to eliminate the problems.

9. Breeding Soundness Exam: - either you either have it or you don't. We won't sell a bull until he passes a BSE, including adequate scrotal size, morphology, motility and reproductive tract examination. We make sure he's physically able to do what you're buying him to do.

The Following Must Be Met By Both The Bull And His Dam

10. Disposition: - it's not worth the risk. Wild cattle not only cost more in time and material but are a health risk that is not acceptable.

11. Conformation and Soundness: - relates to ability to function. The best bull is no good if he can't travel and breed cows. And what good is a cow that looks good but can't perform her duties. Longevity and productivity have to start with a solid foundation.

The Following Must Be Met By The Bull's Dam

12. Teat and Udder Quality: - look to the bull's mother to tell you what his daughters might be like. Bulls pass along genetics for traits that can't be measured on the bull himself. But what good are his daughters if they have to be sold at four or five because of balloon teats or bad udders. This trait is especially important when trying to build your own factory of functional, productive problem free cows. FHG has used a teat and udder scoring chart to cull their cowherd for years-because you don't want to buy problems and we won't put up with them ourselves. Some producers don't even know what a T/U chart looks like, but should you gamble that everything's OK? Why take the chance.

13. Milk Production: - on bulls? Another trait where we look beyond the bull for the answer. USDA Meat Animal Research Center results show that average Gelbvieh cross cows will produce 35% more milk than Angus/Hereford cross cows. So be careful. How much milk do you want? Ideally you want all the milk you can get and have the cow rebreed without additional feed. Again, only you know what your ranch can provide-but milk is cheaper and better than creep feed. The "ideal" milk EPD will vary but an "O" milk for Gelbvieh may be all you need.

14. Fertility: - of the bull's daughters is influenced by his genetics. So how his mother and the dam of his sire performed foretells what his daughters will be like. At FHG the cows must breed and rebreed without fail. If not, the factory is only consuming and not producing. Research tells us that reproduction is ten times more important to the bottom line than carcass quality and five times more important than growth. Everything else is meaningless if the calf is never conceived. One way to look at it is, "every cow produces something to sell every year-either a calf or herself." FHG bulls pass along fertility because Gelbvieh are noted for very strong fertility, early puberty, excellent rebreeding-and we've emphasized the same traits.

15. Efficiency: - of the bull's mother. To produce efficient factories you need to use the right building materials. If you're trying to produce cows that consistently wean over 50% of their body weight why not buy bulls from cows that are doing it without the aid of creep feed or irrigated pastures? And we're not talking 8 or 9 month old calf weights but rather 205 day weights without age of cow adjustments. Real pounds of calf divided by real pounds of cow equals efficiency. That means that if you calve in March and April and your cows weigh 1150 pounds, all your calves (steers and heifers, first-calf heifer's calves, twins and late calves) would weigh an average of 575 pounds on the first of November.

16. Carcass: Ribeye area measurements are taken by ultrasound and adjusted for age and weight. AGA carcass EPD's are utilized as available. Minimum marbling score to produce quality grades of "Select" or higher. Minimum Ribeye Area of 11 ins at one year of age.

17. Disease Prevention: Flying H Genetics has always used an aggressive herd health program including vaccinations for BSRV, IBR, PI3, BVD, Lepto, Vibrio, Brucellosis and parasite control. With the discovery and spread of two very costly diseases— Persistently Infected BVD and Johne’s—we have added negative tests for both to our herd health protocol. Now, more than ever, “QUALITY GUARANTEED GENETICS” means the best genetics and disease prevention package available.